Bengals Player Profile: Josh Kattus is keeping the family name alive in the tight end room
It will be a tough mountain to climb for Josh Kattus, son of a former Bengals tight over, to make Cincinnati’s roster. Why he makes it, if he does, won’t be a mystery.
We’re 76 days away from the Cincinnati Bengals’ preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles. Before we get to that day, we’re covering the entirety of the Bengals’ 90-man roster. Check out previous player profiles here.
Up next in our countdown is a legacy player!
Josh Kattus Player Profile
Age: 23
Year: Rookie
Position: Tight end
College: Kentucky
Jersey Number: 48
Josh Kattus was signed as a UDFA by the Bengals following the 2026 NFL Draft. Kattus spent four years in college at Kentucky, playing in 44 games for the Wildcats. As a run-blocker, he was an immediate contributor off the bench as a freshman and that role only grew as he gained seniority. He only caught 21 passes during his first three years before taking a career-high 174 snaps as a receiver in 2025. He logged 17 receptions for 195 yards and two touchdowns during his most active year as a pass-catcher. UK will remember him more for what he did blocking in the run game.
Kattus is the son of former Bengals TE Eric Kattus, a Cincinnati native who played six years for his hometown team from 1986-1991. The elder Kattus appeared in 83 games, making seven starts, and caught 66 receptions for 698 yards and five touchdowns during his run with the Bengals.
Contract details
Kattus signed a three-year, $3,115,000 deal with the Bengals. His base salary for 2026 is the minimum $885,000. He’s also getting $15,000 as a signing bonus. His cash figure for the year is $900,000, and his salary cap hit will be $890,000.
Roster outlook
Cincinnati has a deep tight end room. It’s not as deep as it looks in terms of players who excel at inline blocking. Drew Sample, Cam Grandy, and Erick All Jr. are the players for that role. Sample is entering the last year of his contract and is a lock. Grandy hovers right above the roster bubble. All is coming off a major knee injury.
Kattus is going to make the team because of his blocking prowess. He was one of the best in the SEC by the time he left the conference, and it’s easy to see why a team like the Bengals signed him after the draft. It will still be a tough mountain to climb over Sample, Grandy, All, Mike Gesicki, Tanner Hudson, and Jack Endries, but it won’t be a mystery why he makes the team if it happens.
Roster odds: 10%